For the first in a series of interviews with V119’s creative team and cast, Spectator sat down with the show’s co-writers, Eric Donahue, CC ’15, and Isabel Lopez, CC ’13. They discussed how they became involved with the Varsity Show, what their creative process is like, and what makes V119 worth seeing.
Zoë Miller: How did you become involved with the Varsity Show?
Eric Donahue: I saw it last year, and I read the program, and I was like, “It would be cool to write this. These John and Jeff guys seem really cool.” I forgot about it, and then it was October, and it was like, “Hey, look at the Spec, there’s a thing about ‘Apply for the Varsity Show.’” And I was like, “Okay, I guess I’ll do that for fun.”
And I auditioned… interviewed, and then I did the audition script and they were like, “Okay, do another one.” And I was like, “Oh, I’ll do another script and improvise it.” And then I got the job and thought that it was a big prank all night. And then sacrificed my life for the benefit of the show.
Isabel Lopez: It was basically the same for me. I hadn’t seen it until last year, and then I watched it, and thought, “It would be cool to do something for it.” I hadn’t had any experience, so I auditioned to write XMAS!, which I did, and during the middle of XMAS!, I auditioned to write for the Varsity Show and got it.
ED: So basically, it was just like “The Hunger Games.” It was really intense.
IL: It was, literally and figuratively.
